Fastener



E. A. OTTO May 28, 1935.

FASTENER Filed Oct. l2, 1932 m .l5 .n

ATTO/FND Patented May 28, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FASTENERApplication October 12, 1932, Serial No. 637,416

9 Claims.

This invention relates to fasteners and more particularly toimprovements in mounting devices to facilitate the fastening of keyframe assemblies in key shelves.

A common type of fastener which has been used for key frame assembliesis illustrated in Craft Patent No. 1,050,520, January 14, 1913. Thistype of fastener requires a pair of spaced rails at each side of theshelf opening, a stud' being provided at each end of the key frameassembly which extends between the rails and which is secured by a screwand washer bearing against the inner edges of the rails.

An object of the invention is to provide a fastener which firmly securesa part in position by engagement with only one abutment or rail on thesupporting framework.

In accordance with the object of the invention, one embodimentcontemplates a key frame assembly similar to that shown in the Craftpatent and having studs at the ends thereof, the outer ends of the studsbeing internally threaded to receive screws which serve to forcelWashers against the inner edges of fixed rails, one at each side of theopening in a shelf assembly and thus force the ends of the metallicframe against the outer edges of the frame. One end of each washer restsagainst the rail while the other has an element extending toward theframe, which may or may not be integral therewith and which serves as asecond rail.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdetailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing,wherein Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a key shelf showing a keyframe assembly and one embodiment of the fastening means in elevation;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View of the fastening meansshown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;and

Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 are fragmentary and partially sectional views ofother embodiments of the invention.

Referring now to the drawing, wherein like reference numerals designatesimilar parts throughout the various views, numeral I designates a keyshelf having spaced members I I and I2 braced by a bar I3 extendinghorizontally therebeneath and secured thereto by any suitable means,such as screws. Metallic rails I and I6 are secured to the inner wallsof the members II and I2? of the key shelf I0 by any suitable means,such as screws, and have their lower edges positioned adjacent the barI3. The rails I 5 and I6 may be of stock material of a desired width,which is less than the thickness of the shelf members lI and I2,allowing a space between the upper edges of the rails and the upperedges of the shelf members for ends Il and i8 of a key frame I9 and endsof a cover 29. The key frame I9 has integral reinforcing ribs 2lterminating short of the ends thereof. In allof .the embodiments of theinvention illustrated, except that of Fig. 7, l0 adjacent the ends ofthe frane I9 are fastening studs 22 rigidly secured to the frame andextending at right angles with res ect thereto, the ends of the. studsfarthest from the frame being internally threaded to receive screws 23.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive,comprises a fastening member 25 having a horizontally extendingelongated rail engaging portion 26 apertured 'to receive the threadedportion of the screw 23, the head of the latter abutting the lowersurface of the fastening member when in assembled position. In thisembodiment of the invention, a lug 2l is formed integral with theelongated portion 25 and extends to and in engagement with the end ofthe frame, as shown in Figs. l and 2.

Extending through apertures in the cover 20 are key levers 30 which arepivotally mounted in the frame I9 and arranged to actuate switches 3l,the latter being carried by switch frames 32 30 mounted upon andsuspended from the frame I9.

The unit, which consists of the frame I9, the cover 2G, and the othermembers carried thereby, may be referred to hereinafter as the keyframeassembly. In mounting the key frame assembly in the key shelf, thefastening members are moved to positions so that the portions 26 of thefastening member 25 will be in parallel relation with the rails I5 andI6. While in this position, the key frame assembly is disposed in theposition shown in Fig. l so that the ends of the frame I8 will rest uponthe rails I5 and I6 and the upper surface of the cover 2l! will be flushwith the upper surface of the shelf members I i and I2 of the key shelfI. The fastening members are then moved through an arc of approximately90 so that they will be in the positions shown in Fig. l. The screws 23are then rotated to force the outer ends of the portions 28 in intimateengagement with the lower surfaces of the rails I5 and I6, the forceupon the inner portions of the members 26 being transmitted to the lugs27, which are held against longitudinal movement by the ends of theframe I9. In this manner the lugs 2l serve as an additional rail forsupporting one end of each of the fastening members 26.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 4 is the same inconstruction as that shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, with theexception of the upper portion of the lug 27, which extends outwardly,as indicated at 35, parallel with the portion 26. The outwardlyextending portion 35 of the lug 2l has an aperture 36 therein slightlylarger than the stud 26 so as to receive the stud and permit freemovement thereof relative to the stud. In this embodiment of theinvention the fastening member may be swung through an arc to permit thekey frame assembly to be inserted in place in the key shelf iii `anduponthe rails l5 and i5 and then moved into the position shown in Fig.4, after which the screw 23 may be tightened, forcing the portion 26ofthe fastening member 25 into intimate engagement with` the lowersurface of the adjacent rails i5 or i5 and forcing the frame i9 inintimate engag-ement withthe upper surface of the rails. When force isapplied to the portion 26, the end thereof in engagement with the railis held against further movement, whereas additional force by the screw23 tendsV to move the opposite end thereof, that is the end integralwithithe lug 2l, upwardly and toward'the rail, but this end is limitedin this movement by the portion of the lug 2l abutting the stud 22. Y

The embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 5 differs from theembodiment shown in'Fig. V1 only in the fastening Vor rail engagingmember and the lug, the construction of the other members ofthe keyframe assembly and the construction of the key shelf being the same. Inthis embodiment of the invention the fastening member and the lug areseparate, the fastening member being in the form of an elongated washel`4Q apertured to receive the'threaded portion of screw 23 and arranged tohave one end engage the rail l5 or i6, and the other end engaging thelower extremity of the lug, which in this embodiment is indicated at Al.The lug l is in the form of a casting having an upper leg 42 and a lowerleg 43 extending in opposite directions from `an'apertured centralportion All, which portion vextends around the stud 22 and has attenedsurfaces 45 positioned adjacent the rail l5 or i6 so as to preventrotation of the lug.

The fasteningmember or washeri may be rotated upon the screw 23 asufcient distance to allow the key frame assembly to be inserted inplace in the key shelf I0, after which the fastening member is movedinto position, as shown in Fig. 5,-and then forced into intimateengagement with the lower surface of the rail and the lower leg 43 bytightening the screw 23, thewasher having been turned through 90 so asto engage the rail i5 and the lug 4i. The lug il serves as a second railand is held upon the stud 22 by the fastening member 4i).

The Vembodiment of the. invention shown in Fig. 6 is similar to thatshownV in Fig. 5, the only difference lying in the construction ofthelug. In this embodiment the lug, indicated at 5i), is formed of stockmaterial of rectangular crosssection and apertured as atv 5l to receivethe stud 22. The lug 59 has a fiat end 52 which abuts the end of theframe I 9 and a tapered riding surface 53 which is arranged to beengaged by the fas- With this type of lug the fasin place Yupon therails i5 and i6, after which the fastening member may be moved upon theriding surface 53 and about the screw 23 so that it will engage the raili5 or l@ and the lowest edge of the lug 5e. The purpose of tapering thelower end of the lug 59 is to provide a clamping gap to permit thefastening member d@ to effectively engage the rail and the lowerinostend of the lug. By tightening the screw 23 thev fastening member iiiisforced into intimate engagement with the lower surface of the rail andthe lower surface of the lug securing the key ring assembly in place.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 7, is somewhatA similar tothat shown in Fig. 6 with the exception that one member in Fig. 7 takesthe place of two members in Fig. 6. This member may be termed a stud 65having any desired cross-sectional contour, preferably of hexagonalcontour, so that it may be easily manufactured in an automatic screwmachine. The stud 6G has an integral lug di which is upset in acountersunk opening 62 in the frame i9 so as to rigidly secure the studto the frame. The lower end of the stud til has a tapered riding surface63 and a flat abutting surface ii f, the tapered surface 63 serving toaid a. fastening member t5 in being moved upon the abutting surface Se.The fastening member t5 is elongated and is carried by a screw t,similar to the screw 23 the other figures, which extends thronghanaperture in the fastening member and is receivable in the thread opening(if in the stud t2. In view of the fact that the fasteningY member 65 iselongated instead of round in Ageneral contour, it may be 1'0- tatedupon the screw 65 so as to permit the key frame assembly to be disposedin the key shelf le Without removing the screw and the fastening member.After the key assembly has been disposed in place upon the rails l5 andi6, the fastening member may be swung through an arc to position one endof the fastening member in engagement with the rail l5 while the otherend engages the abutting surface of the stud 68,and then, by tighteningthe screw te, the key frame assembly will be rigidly secured in place.

`Although this invention has been described herein in connection with atelephone switchboard, it will be understood that the invention iscapable of other applications and is only limited by the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is: A i

1. A'fastener for switchboard keys or the like, comprising a studcarried by a key, a fixed rail for supporting the key, a fasteningmember having one end arranged to engage said raiLa lug positionedbetween theother end of said fastening member and the key for limitingthe movement of the fastening member, and means carried by said stud formoving said fastening member and said key into intimate engagement withsaidl rail. t

2. A fastener for switchboard keys or the like,

3. ll fastener for switchboard keys or the like,

comprising a stud carried by a key, a fixed rail for supporting the key,an elongated fastening member having one end arranged to engage saidrail, a lug integral with the other end of said fastening member andextending toward the key for limiting the movement of the fasteningmember, and means carried by said stud for moving said fastening memberand said lug for fastening said key to said rail.

4. A fastener for switchboard keys or the like, comprising a studcarried by a key, a rail for supporting the key, a fastening memberhaving one end arranged to engage said rail, a lug integral with theother end of said fastening member and extending toward and arranged toengage the key, and means carried by said stud and extending throughsaid fastening member for moving said fastening member and the key intointimate engagement with the rail.

5. A fastening member for switchboard keys or the like, comprising astud carried by a key, a fixed rail for supporting the key, a fasteningmember having one end arranged to engage said rail, a lug integral withthe other end of said fastening member and having a transverselyextending portion apertured to receive said stud, and means carriedbysaid stud for moving said fastening member and said key into intimateengagement with said rail, said lug and its association with said studlimiting the movement of the fastening member.

6. A fastener for switchboard keys or the like, comprising a studcarried by a key, a fixed rail for supporting the key, a lug mountedupon said stud and having one end arranged to engage the key and theother end'positioned substantially parallel with one surface of therail, a fastening member arranged to be moved into intimate engagementwith said rail and adjacent end of said lug, and means carried by saidstud while moving said fastening member into intimate engagement withsaid rail and with said lug for securing said key to said rail.

7. A fastener for switchboard keys or the like, comprising a studcarried by a key, a fixed rail for supporting the key, a lug aperturedto receive the stud and having one end disposed in engagement with thekey while the other end is tapered, a fastening member arranged toengage said rail and the tapered end of said lug, the tapered end ofsaid lug facilitating the movement of said fastening member into and outof engagement with said rail, and means carried by said stud for movingsaid fastening member into intimate engagement with said rail and withsaid stud for securing the key in place.

8. A fastening member for switchboard keys or the like, comprising astud carried by a key and having an abutting surface, a fixed rail forsupporting the key, an elongated fastening member arranged to be movedinto and out of general alignment with said rail and the abuttingsurface of said stud, and means carried by said stud for moving saidfastening member into intimate engagement with said rail and saidabutting surface when positioned in general alignment therewith forforcing said key in intimate engagement with said rail.

9. A fastener for switchboard keys or the like, comprising a fixed railfor supporting a key, an elongated fastening member having one endarranged to be rotated into and out of engagement with said rail, a lugpositioned between the other end of said fastening member and a key forlimiting the movement of the fastening member toward the key, and meanscarried by the key for moving said fastening member and said key intointimate engagement with said rail- EDWARD A. OTTO.

